I do very much prefer to do things with a friend or two, but that’s been the case for the entirety of my life. I do plenty of things on my own though- shopping, cafes, going out to eat, etc!

Feelings-wise, I’ve definitely come a long way. The first year of transitioning was a mental slog, but every step outside of my comfort zone made the following steps feel a little easier - first time wearing pink, wearing a skirt/dress, working on my voice and speech patterns, adjustments to my gait, etc. Every change felt super natural, but the fear of society weighed on me. At some point most of the anxiety melted away.

I am very much aware of people’s eyes on me, and I don’t quite mind if I ‘pass’ because it’s pretty irrelevant to me. I would get super anxious anytime someone came up to me, but in two years of transitioning I’ve only been verbally slighted twice (once by a bratty child and the second by an old woman in a checkout line)… and on the other side, it’s rare for me to not get at least one compliment while I’m out. People have been incredibly kind, affirming, engaged, and supportive. I focus on every positive interaction and let those encourage me to keep being me!

I would definitely give yourself grace 🩷 transitioning or not, I believe there’s a lot of people who feel awkward doing things on their own.